añcita lāṅgūla

 In Sanskrit, añcita lāṅgūla (अञ्चितलाङ्गूल) describes something 'having a curved or bent tail' and is most commonly applied to monkeys or similar forms in classical texts.

Etymology and Definition

The term añcita (अञ्चित) derives from the root añc, which means “bent, 

curved, or arched” 

Wiktionary+1

. The word lāṅgūla (लाङ्गूल) literally

refers to a “tail.” Thus, añcita lāṅgūla combines these elements to denote 

a curved or bent tail, typically in the context of a monkey's anatomy or any 

depiction that requires such a form 

Wisdom Library+1

.

• añcita (अञ्चित): bent, arched, curved; also carries broader meanings 
• such as “honored” or “adorned” in other contexts 

  1

  .
• lāṅgūla (लाङ्गूल): tail; in some classical Sanskrit texts, it refers to tails
• of animals or ornamental representations.
• 

  1 Source
• 
  

Classical Usage

Hinduism and Sanskrit Literature: The term is cited in classical Sanskrit

 dictionaries like Monier-Williams for anatomical or descriptive purposes, 

particularly regarding monkeys (kapis) in mythological tales 

Dance and Drama (Nāṭyaśāstra): Compounds with añcita often describe 

movements or gestures where a part of the body is bent gracefully. While 

lāṅgūla specifically refers to the tail, in dance contexts, similar compounds 

guide how limbs, hands, or decorative elements should curve during 

performance 

Cultural Context

• In literature and performing arts, añcita indicates not just literal bending
• but also artistic expressiveness—curved, graceful, or arched forms 
• are valued aesthetically.
• In depictions of divine or mythological monkeys, such as in Rāmāyaṇa
• or other Sanskrit epics, añcita lāṅgūla would precisely describe the
• monkey’s tail posture, contributing to accurate artistic or iconographic
• representation.

In summary, añcita lāṅgūla is a compound Sanskrit adjective describing 

entities (typically monkeys) with “curved or bent tails”, and its use spans

both descriptive zoological references and expressive gestures

in early Indian performing arts 

Wisdom Library+2

.